EAT IN ASIA / Destinations / Turkey
The great world of Turkish dried fruits
Sun-dried fruits and nuts are not only a perfect, healthy snack, but also are a great ingredient of many sweets, stews and main courses. They give you a lot of energy, that is obtained from natural and healthy sources. They are packed with minerals and vitamins, what means, that consumed regularly can regulate your metabolism and function of many organs. Of course, please do not treat them as a remedy for all your health problems. They cannot replace regular, valuable meals, but can supplement your diet.
Syrian, Egyptian, Tunisian, Turkish and Lebanese dried fruits are well-known. These countries are also huge producers and exporters of dates, figs, apricots and nuts.
But, when you stroll on Turkish streets and bazaars, dried fruits, herbs and spices also almost dominate in sellers’ assortment. Starting with Turkish native fruits like figs and apricots, through neighbor countries specialties like dates and ending on these imported.
Dried figs
Dried figs are the most popular. They come in many sorts and types. Small, medium or large. Regular or organic. Soft or dry. However super tasty, sweet and incomparable to what you could get in a standard shop. Their price depends both on the size, their origin and on the drying process. The cheapest are these smallest ones. They are followed by medium and large. Finally, come double or extra figs. Then, depending on the method of cultivation the price raises. The more natural the process is, the higher the price is. So, the cheaper are these cultivated and dried by big companies, while these from smaller producers and organic are the most expensive. Add to that also the location of the plantation. If it is a regular farm, the price is lower. When figs are collected from trees in mountains, then the price is more high.
Organic dried figs come from orchards that are certified. During their rise, no chemicals are used. They also do not contain any sulphur.
Dried figs are packed with vitamin A and C. They are also a good source of calcium, potassium and magnesium. From the medical point of view, they are beneficial for liver, can lower blood pressure and insulin level. What is more, they can have a positive effect in the prevention from cancer.
Turkey is an important fig producer and exporter. About 65% of all dried figs in the world come from Turkey, especially from the Aydin region. This region has a special climate, that makes local figs soft and honey sweet. Their skin is thin and delicate. Mostly, you will find such types like garland, baglama, or the most wanted – Lerida.
Figs are usually either packed in big five to ten kilo boxes, sold per kilo from a heap or nicely packed in a gift box. During the packing process, figs are shaped. Pressed mechanically or pulled.
Dried apricots
Apart from figs, also Turkish apricots play a significant role in the country’s production and export. Dried apricots from the Malatya region are of the best in the world. Mainly due to the fact that they are not only very tasty, but also because these apricots have a higher dry material content than other varieties. A regular apricot has it on a level of 20%, while Malatian ones have more than 25% and this level can even reach 30%. They are moist and have a chewy flesh. Depending on the drying method, apricots have either an orange color or a dark brown one. These brown apricots, although do not have a nice look, are super tasty. Are very sweet, creamy and very aromatic. The natural drying process eliminates the need of using sulphur and other chemicals. Unfortunately, due to that, these naturally dried apricots cannot stay as long as these regular ones. But it is still worth buying them. Better taste and more sweetness will surely recompensate the look.
Organic apricots, as figs, come only from specially approved and certified plantations.
A lot of dried fruits that is sold as soft dried fruits (especially figs and apricots) is ready to eat and you do not need to soak them. This softening process is carried prior to the delivery. Fruits are soaked and then once again rehydrated in water. Thanks to that, fruits are delicate, soft and have a special taste.
Raisins
Then come raisins. On Turkish bazaars, you will mainly find one of these three varieties: Sultana raisins, Thompson raisins or Golden raisins. Sultana raisins are mainly cultivated in the Aegean region of turkey, especially in the Manisa region, that is one of the biggest raisin’s producer around the world. Sultana raisins come from large, yellow-green, and what is really important - seedless grapes. They are soft and full of flavor.
The drying process in a manufactory is quite simple. It is collected and placed in a well-ventilated room. The temperature and humidity are under control and kept on a certain level.
The sun drying process is more complicated. At the beginning, grapes are put into a water solution with olive oil and potassium carbonate. Thanks to that, they dry quicker but still, do not lose either golden color nor vitamins and minerals. Comparing to the drying process without soaking, this process is about twice as fast and takes more or less about ten days. These raisins are known under the name of Thompson raisins.
All raisins contain a lot of dietary fiber and potassium, so include them to your diet too. Add them to yoghurts, dairy products, sweets or salads. It is easy.
Dates
Finally, there are super sweet and tasty dates. Although they mainly come from other neighbor countries and from Africa, they are widely available and play one of the biggest roles in dried fruits in Turkey. Like raisins, dates contain a lot of dietary fiber and potassium. Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Turkish dates grow in the Aegean Region however the crop is not very big, and in consequence you can hardly ever find Turkish dates on stalls.
Medine Dates - Saudi Arabia
The best and the most expensive dates come from Medina in Saudi Arabia. They are sweet, delicate and have a soft flesh. The pit is easy to be separated. Dates from Medina are large and have an only slightly shining and wrinkled skin. The color is brown with hints of sandy and golden tones.
Kudüs Dates - Jerusalem, Israel
Almost as good as Medina dates, are dates from Israel. Kudüs dates have a similar look. The skin is wrinkled and comparing to Saudi Arabia’s dates, these dates are darker. Still very soft and delicate, however less sweet.
Dates from Tunisia
Another variety of dates that is also partially shiny, is the one that comes from Tunisia. Comparing to these from Medina, they are smaller, but definitively much more glossy. Their color is darker. The flesh is harder, not so soft and less sweet. They are also longer and narrower.
Dates from Iran
Other dates come from Iran. Here you can find two varieties. One of them is dark and oval-shaped, and the second one is similar to these from Tunisia, what means, that are long and narrow. Iran dates are mat and have a skin separable from the pit.
Dates from Iraq
Last but not least, come dates from Iraq. They are relatively pale, hard and smaller than these from Saudi Arabia or Israel. They are similar to those from Iran. They are oval-shaped, smaller and either dark or golden.
Other dried fruits
Apart from that, you will also find dried persimmon, citrus fruits, Chinese dates or jujube and many more. Some of them are imported, and some grown in Turkey. Dried fruits come in different form. In many places you will get sliced fruits like citrons, oranges and figs. All natural, without additional sugar and preservatives. But be careful while selecting them. In many places, sellers tried to convince you that, that are organic fruits, but in reality, they are not. Try to find a place that has a good opinion, where local people do their shopping and where you can try dried fruit before buying. Tasting fruits give you a good idea of how it tastes like, what is the texture and how dried are they. The best option is to buy dried fruits that are not older than one year. Although, these older ones are not spoiled, their taste is worth and are more dried. In consequence, before eating them you should soak them, or use for cooking, baking or puddings and dairy products.
Sometimes, you might also find extra-dried, sliced figs, which price is almost as high as of these regular. That is caused by the fact, that this special sort is made purposely almost stone hard. Thanks to that, you can store them for a longer period of time, but also have to soak well before using.
Many approved and certified organic farmers pack dried figs and apricots in smaller boxes, so they are also available in retail and not only in the wholesale. That would surely guarantee fruits’ high quality and taste. It will also make you sure, that neither sulphur nor any other chemical substance is being added. Thanks to that, you will get the product of the highest quality and worth its price.
So, as Turkish streets are full of dried fruits, don’t hesitate and try them. Select your favorites, buy and enjoy them when you leave Turkey!
You might be also interested in other traditional and ancient Turkish foods that are healthy and nutrient-dense.
